Articles and guides
Materials about business indicators, dashboards and integration.
Dashboards and KPIs
What is a dashboard: definition, types and examples
A dashboard is one screen with a company’s key metrics as charts and numbers. What it is in plain words, types of dashboards, a live example and how to build one.
Dashboards for business: types, examples and how to adopt them
Dashboards for business: what types exist, which metrics to show for owners, finance, sales and warehouse, examples and how to adopt dashboards in a company.
KPIs — key performance indicators: definition and examples
KPIs (key performance indicators): what they are, how to choose KPIs for a company and its departments — finance, sales, marketing, operations, warehouse and HR.
5 sales department KPIs every manager should see
The key sales department KPIs: plan completion, average order value, conversion, deal cycle, CAC and LTV. How to calculate them and put them on a dashboard.
Financial dashboard: metrics, example and how to build one
A financial dashboard for owners and CFOs: which metrics to track, a live example and how to build one from an accounting system or Excel.
Sales dashboard: KPIs, example and plan tracking
A sales dashboard for sales directors and team leads: which KPIs to show, a live example and how to track the sales plan every day.
Warehouse dashboard: stock, turnover and supply
A warehouse dashboard for warehouse and purchasing managers: stock levels, inventory turnover, lead times and on-time delivery — metrics and a live example.
HR dashboard: people metrics and how to build one
An HR dashboard for managers and HR: headcount, staff turnover, hiring, probation and engagement — which metrics to use and how to build the dashboard.
Plan vs actual on a dashboard: how to track plan delivery
Plan vs actual analysis on a dashboard: how to calculate plan completion, show deviations and a month-end forecast, with a live dashboard example.
KPI traffic light: red, amber and green zones for metrics
The KPI traffic light: how to set red, amber and green zones for metrics, choose thresholds and show them on a dashboard, with examples.
Sales
Sales volume: what it is and how to measure it in money and units
Sales volume is how many goods and services were sold in a period, in units and in money. How to calculate it, a worked example and how to show it on a dashboard.
Gross profit from sales: formula and calculation example
Gross profit from sales is revenue minus the cost of goods sold. The formula, a worked example, gross margin and how to track it on a dashboard.
Accounts receivable: how to track customer debt
Accounts receivable is money customers owe the company. How to calculate it, a worked example, overdue debt and tracking customer balances on a dashboard.
Sales plan vs actual: how to calculate plan completion
Sales plan vs actual compares planned and actual sales. How to calculate completion to date, a worked example, the forecast and tracking on a dashboard.
Lead-to-deal conversion: formula and how to improve it
Lead-to-deal conversion is the share of leads that become paid deals. The formula, a worked example, what drives conversion and how to track it on a dashboard.
Sales funnel length: average deal time and how to shorten it
Sales funnel length is the average number of days from first contact to payment. How to calculate average deal time, a worked example and how to shorten the cycle.
Average order value: formula and how to increase it
Average order value is the average amount of one purchase. The formula, a worked example, what it depends on and how to increase the average order value.
Repeat sales (retention): how to measure customer retention
Repeat sales (retention) is the share of customers who buy again. How to calculate customer retention, a worked example and why repeat sales pay off.
Discount share: how to measure and control sales discounts
Discount share is the part of the price a company gives away as discounts. The formula, a worked example, the effect of discounts on margin and dashboard control.
Return rate: formula, causes and how to reduce it
The return rate is the share of sold goods that customers returned. The formula, a worked example, the main causes of returns and how to reduce them.
Finance
Revenue: what it is and how to calculate it net of VAT and returns
Revenue (turnover) is income from sales excluding VAT and returns. What it is, how to calculate it correctly, a worked example and tracking it on a dashboard.
Gross profit: formula, example and gross margin
Gross profit is revenue minus the cost of goods sold. The gross profit formula, a worked example, gross margin and common mistakes.
Financial result: profit or loss for the period
The financial result is a company’s bottom-line profit or loss for a period. How to calculate it, a worked example and how to read it on a dashboard.
Net profit: formula, example and analysis
Net profit is the financial result after all expenses, interest and taxes. The formula, a worked example, net margin and why profit is not the same as cash.
EBITDA: what it is, the formula and an example
EBITDA is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The EBITDA formula, an example, EBITDA margin and how it differs from net profit.
Return on sales (ROS): formula and calculation example
Return on sales (ROS) is the share of profit in every unit of revenue. The ROS formula, a worked example, typical values and how to improve profitability.
Margin: how to calculate the share of profit in revenue
Margin is the share of profit in revenue. How to calculate margin, how margin differs from markup, a worked example and tracking it on a dashboard.
Operating cash flow: how to calculate and read it
Operating cash flow is the cash generated by a company’s core business. How to calculate it, a worked example and why it differs from profit.
Break-even point: formula, example and chart
The break-even point is the sales volume at which a company covers all costs. The formula in money and units, a worked example and the margin of safety.
ARPU: revenue per customer, formula and example
ARPU is the average revenue per customer or user for a period. The ARPU formula, a worked example, how it differs from average order value and how to increase it.
Revenue growth rate: formula and calculation example
Revenue growth rate is how many percent revenue changed versus the previous period. The formula, a worked example, year over year and compound growth (CAGR).
DIO: days inventory outstanding, formula and example
DIO is how many days inventory sits in stock on average before it is sold. The DIO formula, a worked example, typical values and how to reduce days of inventory.
DSO: days sales outstanding, formula and example
DSO is how many days on average customers take to pay for what was shipped. The DSO formula, a worked example, how to read it and how to shorten payment times.
DPO: days payable outstanding, formula and example
DPO is how many days on average a company takes to pay suppliers. The DPO formula, a worked example, how DPO affects cash and where the limit of payment terms lies.
CCC: cash conversion cycle, formula and example
The cash conversion cycle (CCC) is how many days cash is tied up in inventory and receivables. The formula CCC = DIO + DSO − DPO, an example and how to shorten it.
Marketing
Leads: number and cost per lead, formula and example
Leads are enquiries from potential customers. How to count leads and cost per lead (CPL), a worked example, lead quality and tracking by channel on a dashboard.
Traffic-to-lead conversion: formula and how to improve it
Traffic-to-lead conversion is the share of website visitors who leave an enquiry. The formula, a worked example, what drives it and how to improve it.
CAC: customer acquisition cost, formula and example
CAC is how much it costs to acquire one new customer. The CAC formula, what to include in costs, a worked example and how to reduce acquisition cost.
CAC by channel: how to compare customer cost
CAC by channel is the customer acquisition cost for each marketing channel. How to calculate it, a channel comparison example and how to reallocate budget.
LTV: customer lifetime value, formula and example
LTV is how much gross profit a customer brings over the whole relationship. The LTV formula, a worked example and how to use LTV together with CAC.
LTV by channel: the value of customers from different sources
LTV by channel shows how much customers from each marketing channel bring over the relationship. How to calculate it, an example and how to use it with CAC.
LTV/CAC: marketing payback, formula and benchmark
LTV/CAC shows how many times customer value exceeds the cost of acquiring it. The formula, a worked example, a healthy value and CAC payback period.
ROMI and ROAS: formulas, difference and example
ROMI is return on marketing investment, ROAS is return on ad spend. The formulas, how they differ, a worked example and typical values.
CPC and CPM: cost per click and per thousand impressions
CPC is the cost of one click, CPM the cost of a thousand ad impressions. The formulas, a worked example, CTR and how to choose an ad pricing model.
Landing page conversion: how to measure and improve it
Landing page conversion is the share of visitors who complete the target action. The formula, an example, A/B testing and what affects conversion most.
Traffic structure: organic, direct, referral and paid
Traffic structure shows where website visitors come from: search, direct, referrals and ads. How to calculate channel shares, an example and what to do with them.
Branded traffic share: what it shows and how to measure it
Branded traffic share is the part of search visits from queries with the company name. How to calculate it, an example and what it says about brand awareness.
Production
Production capacity utilisation: % of capacity used
Capacity utilisation is the share of available production capacity a company actually uses. The formula, a worked example and how to read the metric.
Overdue orders: how to measure and reduce them
The number of overdue orders is how many orders were not completed on time. How to calculate the overdue share, an example, causes of delays and dashboard control.
Work in progress: how to measure and control it
Work in progress (WIP) is production that has started but is not finished yet. How to calculate the WIP level, a worked example and why excess WIP costs money.
Unit production cost: formula and example
Unit production cost is the cost of making one item. The formula, a worked example, what the cost consists of and how to reduce it.
OEE: overall equipment effectiveness, formula and example
OEE is overall equipment effectiveness: availability × performance × quality. The OEE formula, a worked example, world-class level and how to improve OEE.
Cycle time and setup time: formulas and example
Cycle time is how long it takes to make one unit, setup time is changeover between batches. The formulas, a worked example and how to cut changeover time.
Defect rate: formula, example and how to reduce it
The defect rate is the share of defective products in output. The formula, a worked example, the cost of defects and how to reduce them in production.
Production plan completion: formula and control
Production plan completion is the share of planned output that production actually delivered. The formula, an example, completion by product and control.
Warehouse, purchasing and logistics
Inventory turnover: formula in times and days, example
Inventory turnover is how many times inventory is fully replaced in a period. The formula in times and in days, a worked example and how to speed it up.
Inventory record accuracy: formula and how to improve it
Inventory record accuracy is the share of items where book stock matches physical stock. The formula, a stock count example, causes of variances and fixes.
Lead time: supply lead time, how to measure and cut it
Lead time is the time from ordering from a supplier to receiving the goods. How to calculate it, an example, its effect on inventory and how to shorten it.
OTD: on-time delivery, formula and example
OTD (On-Time Delivery) is the share of orders delivered to customers on time. The OTD formula, a worked example, OTIF and how to improve on-time delivery.
Short and over shipments: measuring delivery accuracy
Short and over shipment rates show how accurately orders are fulfilled by quantity. The formulas, a worked example and how to improve delivery accuracy.
Logistics cost to revenue: formula and example
Logistics cost to revenue is the share of sales eaten up by delivery and warehousing. The formula, a worked example, what to include and how to reduce it.
Procurement savings: how to measure and report them
Procurement savings are how much a company saved thanks to better supplier prices and terms. The formula, a worked example and common mistakes in measuring savings.
Spend share with key suppliers: concentration risks
Spend share with key suppliers shows how dependent a company is on a few suppliers. How to calculate it, an example, concentration risks and what to do about them.
Purchase order cycle time: how to measure and cut it
Purchase order cycle time is the time from a need arising to receiving the goods. How to measure the stages, an example and where time is usually lost.
Share of urgent purchases: formula and causes
The share of urgent (emergency) purchases shows how often a company buys in a rush and at a higher price. The formula, an example, causes and how to reduce them.
Service and customers
CSAT: customer satisfaction score, formula and example
CSAT is the customer satisfaction score after a purchase or support contact. How to survey, the CSAT formula, a worked example and how to raise satisfaction.
NPS: Net Promoter Score, formula and example
NPS measures how willing customers are to recommend a company. How to ask the question, the NPS formula (promoters minus detractors), an example and benchmarks.
SLA compliance: how to measure and control it
SLA compliance is the share of tickets or jobs completed within agreed times. The formula, a worked example, which SLA targets to set and dashboard control.
Time to First Response: how fast customers get a reply
Time to First Response is how long passes from a customer contact to the first reply. How to calculate the average and median, an example and how to shorten it.
First Contact Resolution: solving issues on the first contact
First Contact Resolution (FCR) is the share of tickets resolved on the first contact without follow-ups. The FCR formula, a worked example and how to improve it.
Customer churn: formula, example and how to reduce it
Customer churn rate is the share of customers who stopped buying in a period. The churn formula, a worked example, revenue churn and how to retain customers.
People
Staff turnover: formula, example and benchmarks
Staff turnover is the share of employees who left during a period. The turnover formula, a worked example, typical values and how to reduce turnover.
Time to hire: how long it takes to fill a vacancy
Time to hire is how many days pass from opening a vacancy to a candidate accepting the offer. How to calculate it, an example, time to fill and how to hire faster.
Cost per hire: what hiring an employee costs, formula
Cost per hire is how much a company spends to hire one employee. The cost-per-hire formula, what to include in costs, a worked example and how to reduce it.
Probation completion rate: formula and analysis
The probation completion rate is the share of new hires who finish probation. How to calculate it, an example and what it says about hiring quality.
Employee engagement level: how to measure and raise it
The engagement level shows how committed employees are to their work and company. How to measure engagement with a survey, an example, eNPS and how to raise it.
IT and automation
Service availability (uptime): formula and the “nines”
Availability (uptime) is the share of time a service is up. The uptime formula, a worked example, what 99.9% means and how to improve availability.
Incidents, MTTR and MTBF: formulas and example
Incident count, MTTR (mean time to repair) and MTBF (mean time between failures) measure reliability. The formulas, a worked example and how to improve them.
Incident response time: how to measure and cut it
Incident response time is how long passes from a failure to work starting on it. How to calculate it, an example, incident priorities and how to respond faster.
Automation: share of manual operations, how to measure it
The share of manual operations shows how much work is still done by hand. How to calculate the automation level, an example and where to start automating.
Guides and documents
How to connect charts to Dashboard
How to sign up, connect a reporting HTTP service or another data source, and build charts in Dashboard.
Chart Settings in Dashboard
How to choose a chart type in a widget, add a trend line and text blocks, and pass colours, types and gauge thresholds in the reporting HTTP service response in the billboard.js format.
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